Amish Inspiration?

Angel_Jenny

I was watching the programme where UK teens go to stay with Amish families and it was quite inspiring to me. One lady showed her pantry and it was filled with jars of fruit / vegetables / meat / cordials that she had made. They seem to grow a lot of their fruit and vegetables themselves - I know that the wives are home all day but they have 5 / 10 plus children running around!

It has made me look at how much stuff I have. Things that I think I need like masses of books and magazines. Plus lots of craft stuff that I don't seem to get around to using before buying more. I somehow convince myself that I "need" these things.

In changing to a simpler lifestyle how to you change your mindset not to think of all the things you don't / can't have?

I feel like I need to simplify my life - I feel like I am stuck in a cycle of buying things to cheer myself up. The old style ways appeal to me and I wondered if any of you see what the Amish do as inspiring? They seem closer to nature somehow and not running around trying to keep up with the Joneses!

meritaten

Yes, I find the Amish fascinating too - I really respect their simple way of life - the only issue I have a problem with them is their women seem to be in need of emancipation - yet if that happened I beleive thier way of life would vanish! what a conumdrum!

The women seem to pride themselves (oh dear - not pride exactly, that is a sin) on thier housewifely skills and the girls are taught these skills from a very young age. These people can manage without all the gadgets etc we take for granted!

What was the name of the programme and the channel hun - that sounds most interesting and I would love to watch it!

jpscloud

They truly are "Old Style" and I admire the lifestyle very much - particularly the pace, with journeys taken by horse and trap rather than cars.

I agree with you though meritaten, I think I'd be uncomfortable with having to stick to things "appropriate" to my gender in that lifestyle!

meritaten

yes jps - but we have been brought up in one way of life - and the children of the Amish very rarely encounter any other way. yet I have read that women and men do sometimes leave the community - but it must be a frightening thing to do as they are then 'shunned' by thier families and the rest of the Amish community. yet outsiders have joined the community and recieved acceptance.

makes me think that there is no 'Perfect' way of life, and what is perfectly acceptable to some is anathema to others.

debralee_2

meritaten wrote: »

Yes, I find the Amish fascinating too - I really respect their simple way of life - the only issue I have a problem with them is their women seem to be in need of emancipation - yet if that happened I beleive thier way of life would vanish! what a conumdrum!

The women seem to pride themselves (oh dear - not pride exactly, that is a sin) on thier housewifely skills and the girls are taught these skills from a very young age. These people can manage without all the gadgets etc we take for granted!

What was the name of the programme and the channel hun - that sounds most interesting and I would love to watch it!

The programme was called Living With The Amish and it was on Channel 4. You can watch the whole series on 4OD.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/living-with-the-amish/4od

Angel_Jenny

There were 2 programmes both on Channel 4. One called World's Squarest Teenagers and the second called Meet the Amish. Really interesting to watch.

I am watching series 2 episode 2 on 4OD and that covers the role of women issue. They all seem happy believing in set roles!

Molly41

I was very lucky to be able to spend time with an Amish Midwife a few years ago. It was a truly amazing experience and changed my practice as a midwife. I wrote a reflection which describes a lot about the Amish women lifestyle and birthing practices.

lostinrates

jpscloud wrote: »

They truly are "Old Style" and I admire the lifestyle very much - particularly the pace, with journeys taken by horse and trap rather than cars.

I agree with you though meritaten, I think I'd be uncomfortable with having to stick to things "appropriate" to my gender in that lifestyle!

Hmmm. I have read some very upsetting things about the welfare of some of the horses and other animals. Relatively intensive faming does not offend them.

I too love very much though the simplicity, the satisfaction found through hard work and the self providence and family bonds. There would be great appeal to me living in such a way, and much of what dh and i do now in life is to enable more of that, because sadly, we cannot just have affordable barn and hopuse raisings here!


That said, there are things i do not hanker after. I am to culturally curious to want to live in a fairly closed community, and the idea of being closed and critical of other people's alternative choices leaves me cold, as does some of the more philosophical aspects.

In short, i guess, take the good into our lives, but remember the pitfalls we can fall into living such a life and be sure to think carefully before embracing a lifestyle on its more romantic and delightful aspect!

ginnyknit

I too am interested in the Amish way of life and found out they have websites :eek: with recipes and information a plenty! The only thing on one programme that bothered me was seeing children with no shoes or socks going to school in the snow, but maybe thats more an indication of the levels of poverty still around in rural USA.

We do need to follow their ideas of not wasting things - but then again thats what MSE is powered by

jpscloud

lostinrates wrote: »

Hmmm. I have read some very upsetting things about the welfare of some of the horses and other animals. Relatively intensive faming does not offend them.

I have to admit I hadn't heard about the discussion of animal cruelty, just had a quick search online. I am guilty as charged fur believin' what I sees on TV.... The horses I saw on TV were without doubt well cared for and not in any distress, but I haven't visited the Amish in person so I shall stop thinking I know what I'm talking about immediately!

Why_oh_why

Not Amish related but I am fascinated by this

To have such simplicity must be so enlightening